Kansas City Plaza Fire

Updated:
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Kansas City officials say one of two people who were missing after an explosion destroyed a restaurant has been found but the search continues for a woman who worked there.

Kansas City Fire Chief Paul Berardi said early Wednesday that a man who was reported missing was found at St. Luke’s Hospital receiving treatment. He says there has been no sign of the female employee since the explosion Tuesday evening at JJ’s restaurant on the Country Club Plaza.

Searchers used cadaver dogs to search the rubble overnight and are waiting for heavy equipment to remove heavy piece so they can continue to search.

Berardi says 14 people were treated at hospitals for injuries.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) An official says 14 people have been confirmed as injured in a massive gas explosion in an upscale Kansas City shopping district.

A car crashed into a gas main Tuesday evening in an upscale Kansas City shopping district, sparking a massive blaze that engulfed an entire block and caused multiple injuries, police said.

Police spokeswoman Rhonda Flores said it appeared that a car crashed into a gas main near a restaurant at 6:03 p.m. Flores said injuries were reported but that she did not know how many or how severe. She noted an initial call for three ambulances had been increased to 10. She said she had not heard of any reported fatalities. Flores said the car crash appeared to have been accidental.

Kerry O’Connor, a spokeswoman for St. Luke’s Hospital, which is near the scene of the fire, said several patients were on the way to the hospital. She said they haven’t been assessed yet but “they appear to be critical at this time.”

The smell of gas was very strong near the area long after the suspected explosion.

Video showed dozens of firefighters and other emergency responders battling a massive blaze that appeared to have engulfed an entire block, with flames burning through the roofs. Black smoke swirled in the air and debris littered surrounding streets.

The shopping area was established in 1922 by J.C. Nichols. Based on the architecture of Seville, Spain, it includes retail, restaurants, apartments and offices.